Collapsible cellular carton



w. H. iNMAN COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON Nov. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1953 INVEN TOR. WILL/AM H. INMAN HIS ATTORNEY COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \I Q INVENTOR.

WILL/AM H IIVMA/V k BY HIS A TTORNEY United States Patent earns? ze tge st This invention relates to cellular cartons of the variety made from cardboard or other-'-suitable"sheet material,

'for' containing' eggs or other f'ragile"articlesyoneobject of the invention being to provide "an improved carton 'of the-above character having aniore simple, practical and 'efiicient' construction alfording a high-degree r.if"str'en"gt h =and resistance to crushing, vparticulafly under iverti'c'al pressure cit-the carton-or-"the :contents-ther'e'o'fr ."Another object is' to provide a c'artoh liavihg the above advantages -which "is" capable of *being 'r't'eadil-y out" from sheet material,- scored 1 for folding; "-fdlded and" 'gluedin collapsed condition, and of being easily swung to'erected condition by *auto'mat-ic machines' of'known construction.

further object is"to providea carton'of thembove character-havin'g'a form of construction-which elimiiiates externally 1 projecting supporting le gs *or" other I irregular projections and presentss'inootli out'er wall surfaces 'wh'en in erected condition so as to obviate entanglemenf'with one another-and to facilitatethe-stacking of--quantities of'the'filled cartons.

Still-a further-object is to provide a carton having the above advantages which require amini-mum amount-of material-in proportion to-its -strengtl1-'ahd"whichis capableof being readily and economically manufactured.

o these andother ends-the*invention resides-:incertain "improvements and combinationsof-partsrall as will be-- hereinafter -1nore =ful-ly-deseribed, --the "novelfeatures being pointed out-in the cla-ims at-theend'of the specifi'gationzr nu t. .rz... l. a). u

In-the drawings:

Fig.---1=is aplan View of a blank of sheet material cut, scored and glued, inaccordance with myinvention, preparatoryto folding; a a

--Fig.- 2-is anenlarged fragmentary plan view of the top wallof-thecarton;

-=Eig. -3-is an end elevation showing the completed carton in collapsed condition; Y a Fig.- 4 is an end elevation showing the completed carton in the process of erection; Y

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the erected carton, and

Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview" showing the "carton in erected condition;

This invention is an improvement on the general type of carton disclosed in rny-- prior Patent Nor-2,556,088, for the purpose of producing astronger and more practical, economical and convenient carton." I r g The embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed by way of illustration, preferably comprises a one-piece blank, shown gener-ally-aPZh-Of cardboard or other suitable sheet material; cut, scored and glued for folding, asshown in Figl.-- The blank is shown in Eig. l with the outer surfaceshof the carton uppermost in order to more clearly show the var-ious out and more lines which form the parts ofthe carton, hereafter described. The blank "is of generally rectangular shape/adapted to be economically cut from stock .r'nateria'l a aeem'pfi ses in ortl'er;"as"shown in EigJl, a rock ng flap-zg cdver'z s, rearwall 27, 'i iner bottom wallp ahd bottom Wall 33, longitudinal partition members or sections 35 and 37, outer" bottom wall 39,"innerfbottom plies 41 and 43, a front wall '45,a top wall 47, andan attaching strip 49. i

The above sections of the blank are separated by score lines extendin'gacross thetblank, as shown'by multiple lining in' the drawings, to facilitate folding, as well understood in the art. "The top'wall 47 is cut'and scored for the downfolding ofa'series of' cross or transverse partitions having three' difiei'en't configurations, as shown at 51, 53 and 55 (Fig. 2), for separatingthe earton'longitudin'ally'into cells. I

Thus, the blank is cut through along lines 57 and scored along the lines 59 topermitthe'*downfoldingof the cross partitions, as shown in Fig. 6', for coactio n' with a central longitudinal partition, hereinafter described, to.

divide the carton into 'adozenarticle-receiving cells. The top wallhas a series of'shorttransversely-ektending score lines 61 (Fig? 2), located'adjacentopposite sides thereof, which inconjunction'with score lines'59 form aseries of substantiallytriangular hinge portions '63 about which the transverse partitions'may beswung to their downfolded positions, asshown in Fig. 6. -Score lines 59 and 61 preferably have short cuts'or slits 65 formed therein for'de'creasing theresistanc'e to the folding" of the carton parts along saidscor'elines. The'top wall is also formed with a'series of cut-outs as at 67 (Fig. '2). 'The lower edges of'the transverse partitions are preferably notchedor slitted'centrally;as' at'69 (Pig 2) for engagement "with the longitudinal partition, hereafter described; Transverse partitions 55 are each preferably provided with a'pair' of short cuts orslits '71"(Fig'.2) which-,"in conjunction with'the centralslit'69, form a pair'of tab portions adapted to'yield slightly as partitions 55 are'swung into engagement'with" the longitudinal partition to assist in the frictional engagement therebetween, as disclosed inmypriorlatents'Nos; 2,277,327 and 2,556,088." Each cross partition'is centrally scored longitudinally of the carton, as at '73 (Fig; 2), in addition to slits'69, to facilitate the central'folding' of'the transverse partitions and'the topwall'inthe"collapsed condition of the carton, as hereafter more fully described. The partitions are preferably so arranged that, whenthe blank is turned over and'foldecl, th'e'three' partitionsadja cent the right end of'the'blanlc, as'shown'inFig'L'fold downwardly in'a clockwise direction to their erected positions shown in Fig. 6, whil'e' theremaining fourpartitions arearranged to swingin a"c0unterclocl:w'ise direction 'to'their erected positions shown"in"Fig. 6

- 'The longitudinal partition'm'embers and 37 are formed with a'series'of cut-out portions or"notches, as at' (Fig. 1) to provide, when erected, a series of notches in' the upper portion of the longitudinahpartition. Notches 75"are' open at the upper endsthe'reof and are arranged to receive the transverse"partitions which swing down and engage the longitudinal partition in'the slits 69 thereof. Partition members"35'a'i1d"37 are separated by an interrupted score or fold line 77 (Fig. 1') extending longitudinally of'th'e carton, to assist in reversely foldingthe'partition sections 'totheir juxtaposed position shown in Figs."4'and 5. "Members 33' and 37 are separated from the-adjacent outer bottonfwalls 33 and 39, respectively, by longitudinally extending score lines-79and 81 (Fig. 1).

' 'The-"carton" is preferably provided with a pair of longitudinally-extending, double thickness, inner bottom cushioning sections 's'hown'generallyat 83 and'85 (Fig; 5). Inner bottom section 83 comprises a lower ply 31 which is 'separa'ted' frombuter bottom wall 33by a longitudinally extending score 3 line 87; i and an upper ply v is separated from lower ply lil by aiscore line a d' rear war 27- by a scoilate *9; as shows in v Inner bottom section 85 comprises a lower ply 41 which is separated from outer bottom wall 3% by a score line 93, and an upper ply 43 which is separated from lower ply 41 by a score line 95 and from front wall 45 by a score line 97, as shown in Fig. 1. Inner bottom plies 29 and 31 are preferably provided with a band or strip of glue or other suitable adhesive, as at @9 (Fig. l), for securing the same together when reversely folded about score line 89 for forming inner bottom section 83. inner bottom plies 41 and 43 are preferably provided with a band or strip of glue or other suitable adhesive, as at 101 (Fig. l), for securing the same together when reversely folded about score line 95 for forming inner cushioning bottom section 235. Longitudinal partition sections 35 and 37 are preferably provided with glue or other suitable adhesive, as at 1%, on the upper surfaces thereof, as viewed 1, for securing the same together when reversely folded along fold line 77 for forming a double-thickness longitudinal partition and bringing bottom walls 33 and 39 into proximity with each other adjacent the inner edges thereof, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Top wall 47 is separated from front wall 45 and attaching strip 49 by irregular, longitudinalextending fold lines formed in part by the respective series of spaced cuts 57 and in part by the respective series of spaced score lines 59. Cover 25 is separated from rear wall 27 by a score line 1tl5 (Pig. 1) and from locking strip 23 by a score line 107 (Fig. l).

The folding and gluing of the carton is preferably done as follows: The blank is passed through a gluing machine which applies glue or other suitable adhesive, as at 99, 1M, 163 and along the upper surface, as viewed in Fig. l, of attaching strip 49, as at M19. The blank is preferably broken along score lines 81 and 79 and then plies 29 and 31, and 41 and 43 are reversely folded along score lines 89 and @5, respectively, for forming the doublethickness inner bottom sections 83 and 85. The blank is then reversely folded along score line '79 bringing sections 35 and 37 into juxtaposed relationship for forming the double-thickness, longitudinal partition. Thereafter, front wall 45 and top wall 47 are swung as a unit about score line 97 upwardly over the top of the longitudinal partition. Top wall 47 is then reversely folded along score line 73. Inner bottom section 83 is moved inwardly toward the longitudinal partition and passes between the underside of attaching strip 49 and the longitudinal partition. The parts are then swung to collapsed position and cover 25 and rear wall 27 folded upwardly along score line 105 to their positions shown in Fig. 3, bringing rear wall 27 into contact with attaching strip 49 to which it is securely held by adhesive 109.

When the folding operation has been completed, the carton is in collapsed condition, as shown in Fig. 3, and requires a minimum of space for storage or shipment. The upper portion of the longitudinal partition extends upwardly through slits 69 in the corresponding transverse partitions so that once the carton is glued and folded, the parts will always remain in proper alignment and the carton may thereafter be quickly and easily erected without special operations or machines to hold the parts in position. That is, in erecting the carton, the transverse partitions are forced downwardly into notches 75 in the longitudinal partition while said longitudinal partition is forced downwardly to move outer bottom Walls 33- and 39 into nearly coplanar relationship and \spread the front and rear walls, as shown in Fig. 4. At

his point the transverse partitions are substantially horintal and well below the top of the longitudinal partiand may be readily swung to their substantially ical, erected positions by hand, or by known erecting .es, thereby completing the erection of the carton. tions 51 and 53 are preferably shaped so that the edges thereof engage the upper surfaces of bottom 29 and 43 for holding inner bottom sections 83 and spectively, in their inclined positions shown in Fig.

5, and for increasing the frictional interengagement of the carton parts in their erected condition thereof.

After filling, cover 25 is folded along score line and locking flap 23 folded along score line 167 into depending position relative to cover 25. Flap 23 is provided with a series of locking hooks 111 and a tab 113 (Fig. 1) which are moved downwardly into engagement with and between hinge portions 63-, for securing the cover in closed position, as well understood in the art.

Transverse partitions 51 are preferably provided on opposite sides thereof with small projecting lugs 115 (Fig. 2) which are adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls of the carton when the partitions are swung to erected position, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby increasing the frictional engagement between the partitions and the side walls of the carton. Partitions 53 have similar lugs or projections 117 formed therein and are provided with a pair of short slits or cuts 119 (Fig. 2) which increase the flexibility of said lugs and allow the same to bend out of alignment with the main portion of partitions 53 so as to provide an enlarged area of frictional engagement between the partitions and the front and rear walls of the carton. Partitions 55 are each provided with slits 71 which, in conjunction with central slit 69, form a pair of substantially triangular tab portions which are adapted to bend and frictionally engage the longitudinal partition as partitions 55 are swung into erected position. In addition, partitions 51 are preferably provided with a series of interrupted cut or slit lines 121 arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for allowing partitions 51 to bow outwardly towards the adjacent end of the carton between the front wall and the longitudinal partition, and between the longitudinal partition and the rear wall, thereby increasing the length of the end cells of the carton.

The longitudinal partition is preferably of such a height as to engage and support the center of cover 25 when the cover is swung to its closed position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5. This allows vertical loads on the cover to be transmitted directly to the outer bottom of the carton by the longitudinal partition without affecting the contents of the carton. The inner cushioning bottom sections are secured only at their outer edges, as shown in Fig. 4, and upon erection of the carton swing downwardly until they engage opposite sides of the longitudinal partition as shown in Fig. 5. In this position bottom sections 83 and 85 are free to bow or flex downwardly, or move upwardly, under impact and thereby provide a resilient cradling of the eggs, or other contents of the carton. In addition, inner bottom sections 83 and 85, outer bottom walls 33 and 39, and the lower portion of the longitudinal partition form a truss-like construction of substantially triangular shape, comprising in effect two smaller truss-like triangles, which impart considerable strength to the upper portions of the longitudinal partition, the transverse partitions, and through the longitudinal partition, to the cover of the carton. This construction results in a much stronger carton of the type which may be conveniently stacked one upon another without fear of crushing the contents and which are capable of resisting heavy shocks or impacts. In addition, as there are no feet or other projections depending below outer bottom walls 33 and 39, the outer surfaces of the carton are smooth and are not likely to engage or entangle one another.

Thus, it will be seen that my invention provides an improved carton having a smooth outer bottom and an inclined inner cushioning bottom which supports and cradles the contents. The inner bottom sections are so spaced from the outer bottom walls that impacts will be absorbed by the carton or transmitted through the carton without injury to the contents thereof. The cover of the carton is not only supported along the rear edge thereof by rear wall 27, and along the front edge thereof by the front wall 45 and closure flap 23, but it is also supported midway between the front and rear edges thereof by the upper edge of the longitudinal partition. My improved carton has the further advantages that the above construction is a p sh d with imat r a tansithe ca o s o fil h va typ a maybe ea ily .an .ec nomic.a1ly manufactured an da fold u to collapsed condition for. shipment or storage, ,Thereafter, the; carton ,may .be,.'readily erected by hand or hy; mechanieal erectingdevices to its condition shown ,in vFigs. ,5 and fi, since; the.top,wall and longitudmal partition are continuously engaged and guid- ,I, claim:

A l. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form front and rear side Walls, a pair of inner cushioning bottom sections having upper plies hingedly connected to said side walls along the lower edges thereof and extending upwardly and inwardly into proximity with each other, said inner bottom sections having lower plies hingedly connected to the respective upper plies along the inner edges thereof and extending downwardly and outwardly adjacent the bottoms of said side walls, respectively, a pair of outer bottom walls hingedly connected to said lower plies along the outer edges thereof and extending inwardly into proximity with each other, upwardly extending longitudinal partition members hingedly connected to said outer bottom walls adjacent the inner edges thereof for forming a central longitudinal partition extending upwardly between said inner cushioning bottom sections, said partition members being hingedly connected to each other along the upper edges thereof, and a top wall hinged to and connected with said front and rear walls and having therein a series of transverse partitions hingedly connected thereto and folded downwardly therefrom between said side Walls and on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition to provide a plurality of separate article-receiving cells on each side of said longitudinal partition.

2. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form front and rear side walls, a cover hinged to said rear wall, a pair of inner cushioning bottom sections having upper plies hingedly connected to said side walls along the lower edges thereof and extending upwardly and inwardly into proximity with each other, said inner bottom sections having lower plies hingedly connected to the respective upper plies along the inner edges thereof and extending downwardly and outwardly adjacent the bottoms of said side walls, respectively, a pair of outer bottom walls hingedly connected to said lower plies along the outer edges thereof and extending inwardly into proximity with each other, upwardly extending longitudinal partition members hingedly connected to said outer bottom walls adjacent the inner edges thereof for forming a double thickness central longitudinal partition extending upwardly between said inner cushioning bottom sections, said partition members having their upper edges hingedly connected together and located in supporting proximity to said cover, and a top wall hinged to and connected with said front and rear walls and having therein a series of transverse partitions hingedly connected thereto and folded downwardly therefrom between said side walls and on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition to provide a plurality of separate articlereceiving cells on each side of said longitudinal partition.

3. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form front and rear side walls, a pair of inner cushioning bottom sections having upper plies hingedly connected to said side walls along the lower edges thereof and extending upwardly and inwardlyinto proximity witheach other, said inner bottom .sectiqnsthavin loweripliesfhingedly, connected'to the re- R tivelj iPIlQii npli slralongithe ifiner edges thereof and extending. downwardly. landfoutwardly adjacent. the bot 5 'walls hin'gedly, cofinectedittofsaid lower plies along the tom'slofsaidsidewalls, respectively, a' pair of outer bottom .Oiiter edgesjfhereof and extending inwardly into proximity with eachloth'eroupwardly extending longitudinal partition members ,hingedlyconhected to said outer bottom walls adjacent the'i,riner ,,edgest.thereof"forforming a double thickness central'longitudinal partition extending upward- .lyIf between ,saidlinner cushioning bottomlsections, said partition members being hingedly connected to each other ,alongfitheoupper edges thereofgand a top wall hinged to said frontwtall,adjacentltheupper edge thereof and being foldably,coniiectedwith 'said rearw'all, said'to'p wall havin'gltherein a series ,ofltransverse partitions hingedly connected thereto and folded downwardly therefrom between said sidewalls andoiijdpposue sides of said longitudinal partition to providea plurality of separate article-receiving cells on each side of said longitudinal partition, said top wall being formed with a central longitudinal score line, whereby said top wall and transverse partitions may be folded upwardly in continuous engagement with said longitudinal partition while said outer bottom walls are foldable downwardly about the hinge connections between said outer bottom walls and the respective longitudinal partition members for collapsing said carton to substantially flat condition.

4. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form front and rear side walls, a pair of inner cushioning bottom sections having upper plies hingedly connected to said side walls along the lower edges thereof and extending upwardly and inwardly into proximity with each other adjacent the center of the carton, said inner bottom sections having lower plies hingedly connected to the respective upper plies along the inner edges thereof and extending downwardly and outwardly adjacent the bottoms of said side walls, respectively, a pair of outer bottom walls hingedly connected to said lower plies along the outer edges thereof and extending inwardly into proximity with each other, upwardly extending longitudinal partition members hingedly connected to said outer bottom walls adjacent the inner edges thereof for forming a double thickness central longitudinal partition extending upwardly between said inner cushioning bottom sections, said partition members being hingedly connected to each other along the upper edges thereof, and a top wall hinged to and connected with said front and rear walls and having therein a series of transverse partitions hingedly connected thereto and folded downwardly therefrom between said side walls and on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition to provide a plurality of separate article-receiving cells on each side of said longitudinal partition, said inner cushioning bottom sections being wider than the outer bottom walls and engaging opposite sides of said longitudinal partition at points spaced above the juncture between said outer bottom walls and said longitudinal partition for holding said inner cushioning sections in upwardly-inclined position and in spaced relationship with said outer bottom walls along the inner edges thereof; said inner cushioning sections, outer bottom walls and longitudinal partition forming a relatively rigid, truss-like support of substantially triangular shape for firmly supporting said inner cushioning sections and longitudinal partition, with a smooth outer bottom surface for said carton.

5. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form front and rear side walls, a cover hinged to said rear wall, a pair of inner cushioning bottom sections having upper plies hingedly connected to said side walls along the lower edges thereof and extending upwardly and inwardly into proximity with each other, said inner bottom sections having lower plies hingedly connected to the respective upper plies along the inner edges thereof and extending downwardly and outwardly adjacent the bottoms of said side walls, respectively, a pair of outer bottom walls hingedly connected to said lower plies along the outer edges thereof and extending inwardly into proximity with each other, upwardly extending longitudinal partition members hingedly connected to said outer bottom walls adjacent the inner edges thereof for forming a double thickness central longitudinal partition extending upwardly between said inner cushioning bottom sections, said partition members having their upper edges hingedly connected together and located in supporting proximity to said cover, and a top wall hinged to and connected with said front and rear walls and having therein a series of transverse partitions hingedly connected thereto and folded downwardly therefrom between said side walls and on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition to provide a plurality of separate articlereceiving cells on each side of said longitudinal partition, said inner cushioning bottom sections being wider than the outer bottom walls and engaging opposite sides of said longitudinal partition at points spaced above the juncture between said outer bottom walls and said longitudinal partition for holding said inner cushioning sections in upwardly-inclined position and in spaced relationship with said outer bottom walls along the inner edges thereof; said inner cushioning sections, outer bottom walls and longitudinal partition forming a relatively rigid, truss-like support of substantially triangular shape for firmly supporting said inner cushioning sections and longitudinal partition, with a smooth outer bottom surface for said carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,100 McWilliams Dec. 15, 1931 2,374,382 Rutledge Apr. 24, 1945 2,460,020 Lupton Jan. 25, 1949 2,634,398 Inman Apr. 14, 1953 

